Steam-condenser.



O. AMBROSE & F. D.. SCHWARTZ.

STEAM CONDENSER.

APPLIOATION FILED DEO.16, 1907.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908;

2 SHEETSSHEET 1;

THE mamas PETERS co., wAsHlNn-Ion. n. c.

0. AMBROSE & F. 1). SCHWARTZ.

STEAM CONDENSER.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.16, 1907.

Patented Nov.'3, 1908 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE mamas PETERS co., wnsummon, n. c.

FICE.

CHARLES AMBROSE AND FRANK D. SCHWARTZ, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STEAM-CONDENSER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

Application filed December 16, 1907. Serial No. 406,776.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES AMBROSE and FRANK D. SCHWARTZ, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam Condensers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to improvements in steam-condensers, and has special reference to improvements in condensers of that class properly described as air-cooled condensers, wherein air is used as the cooling medium.

The object of our invention is to provide apparatus that shall be adapted to and shall enable the substitution of air for water in the condensation of steam in power plants. There are in this country many arid and semi-arid regions in which the scarcity of water compels the use of simple direct-exhaust engines because of the excessive cost of the water required for the operation of water-cooled condensers in connection with compound and turbine engines. This fact, coupled with the smaller cost of moving an adequate volume of air, has led us to provide apparatus wherein confined bodies of steam may be condensed by exposure to rapidly-moving currents of air. We are aware that others have undertaken the solution of the same problem; but within our information and knowledge the results secured have not been wholly satisfactory as to the vacuum maintained, and in every case the apparatus has been objectionable because of its great size, compared with water-cooled condensers of the same capacity.

The special objects of our invention are to provide an air-cooled steam-condenser that shall be as or more efiicient than watercooled condensers of the same approximate size and capacity; that shall be little, if any, larger than a water-cooled condenser of equal capacity; that shall use the supplied air in a most effective and economical manner; that shall be of less cost than watercooled condensers of the same capacity; that may be operated with less attendant expense than such water-cooled condensers; and that shall enable the maintenance of a high vacuum at the exhaust parts of the connected engine.

With these objects in View, our invention consists generally in an air-cooled steam condenser of the construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a steam condenser embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section thereof on the line X X of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line Y, Y, of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line Z, Z, of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line W, of Fig. 1.

Our novel steam condenser in its preferred form is cylindrical, the body thereof being formed by the drum, or casing, 2, having closed ends, 3 and 4. In use the drum rests upon a support (not shown), and if desired, may be slightly inclined toward the end, 4, though we find it preferable in horizontal position.

5 represents a flue sheet secured in the cylinder, or drum, and 6 is a horizontal partition which divides the space into steam in- I let and exhaust heads or compartments, 7 and 8. The steam pipe, 9, enters the compartment, 7, and its open end directs the steam against the head, 4, to distribute it uniformly throughout the compartment.

10 'is an exhaust pipe which leads to a vacuum pump (not shown).

11 and 12 represent upper and lower tiers or rows of water-spraying pipes. These extend across the drum, and the flow of water therefrom is regulated by individual valves, 13, interposed between the spray pipes and the main supply pipe, 14, at the side of the drums.

15, 15, represent steam condensing tubes, or loops, having parallel sides. These together substantially fill the drum, and the ends of the loops are secured in the flue sheet 5, each tube forming a connection between the two compartments, 7 and 8. The cooling medium that is employed, is air, which is blown into and through the drum, and is moistened by the water from the sprayers. To better subject the steam tubes to the heat absorbing effect of the moist air, we form a plurality of tortuous passages within the drum and preferably divide the blast of air from the fan (not shown) into two streams, each traversing a given portion of the drum.

For this purpose a main partition, 16, is

used, the same dividing the drum into two main compartments. Then each compartment is subdivided into four vertical passages by vertical, longitudinal partitions, 17 and transverse partitions, 18.; The-partitions, 17, extend from the top of the drum and are of less height, so that openings, 19 and 20 are left beneath the same. The partitions 18, extend. from the bottom of the drum, and on one side of the partition extend to the top of the drum, and on the other side of the partition they fall short of the top leaving openings, 21, between adj acentpassages, best shown in' Figs. 1, at, and 5. The main compartments of the drum are the same and the blast fan connection, 22, in each case delivers the air into the top of the passage, 23. On reaching the bottom of this passage the air enters the passage 24 through the opening, 19, and at the top of the passage, 24, enters the openin 21, and flows downwardly through the passage 25, escaping therefrom through the opening, 20, into the exit passage, 26, at the top of which it enters the outlet, 27. It will be observed that the air flows transversely through the group of tubes within the drum and has a long travel therein, contacting each tube twice in its movement from the entrance to the exit. To insure the distribution of the air blast in the entrance passages 28, we form the admission connections in the manner shown in Figs. 3 and 4C, the outer walls 22 thereof being substantially tangential to the drum, and the entrance opening in the drum being of much greater area than the blast pipes. For a similar reason the outlets, 27, are widened at their lower ends as shown in Fig. We utilize the outlets as water collectors by providing ribs,

or flanges, 27, on the inner walls thereof, to collect and throw down the water which might otherwise escape with the air blast. Inclined corrugated baflie'plates, 28, will also be employed in the funnel shaped outlets and by arranging these upon pivots, 28, after the manner of dampers the velocity of the air currents may be controlled. The

partitions are perforated to receive the steam loops or tubes and provide convenient means for supporting them.

29 represents drain connections leading from the bottom of the drum to clear the passages of water as rapidly as it is precipitated from the sprayers.

The operation of our invention as herein disclosed is as follows: The fan delivers air to the admission openings of the drum and forces large volumes thereof through the tortuous passages shown. The necessary regulation'is secured by altering the speed of the fan, or by adjusting the watercollecting dampers or battles in the outlets. Water is admitted to the drum upon the opening of the valves, 13, and is sprayed upon the steam tube in such manner as to break up the streams and cause the thorough moistening of the air in the passages. When steam is admitted through the pipe, 9, it flows from the compartment through all of the bent tubes or loops and these being constantly cooled by the moist moving air the steam is quickly condensed. The steam tubes by reason of their formation readily deliver the steam to the exhaust head or compartment, 8, from whence it is removed by the vacuum pump. Practically all of the water used in the drum or cylinder is precipitated upon the bottom'thereof and returns to the pump tank through the drain connections, 29.

As various modifications of our invention will readily suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, We do not confine our claims to the specific structure herein shown and described.

Having thus described our invention we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. A steam condenser comprising a horizontal drum having closed ends and provided with air entrance and exit openings in its top, in combination with a flue sheet near one end of the drum, a horizontal partition, dividing the space between the flue sheet and said end into steam. admission and exhaust compartments, a plurality of bent tubes, having parallel sides, and secured in said flue sheet, to conduct steam from one compartment to the other, anda vertical longitudinal partition provided in said drum and vertical transverse partial partitions therewith forming tortuous passages which communicate with said air openings, substantially as described.

2. A steam condenser comprising a horizontal drum having. closed ends and provided with air entrance and exit openings in its top, in combination with a flue sheet near one end of the drum, a partition, dividing the space between the flue sheet and said end into steam admission and exhaust compartments, a plurality of bent tubes, having parallel sides, and secured in said flue sheet, to conduct steam from one compartment to the other, vertical partial partitions pro exhaust compartments, steam inlet and exhaust pipes connected with respective compartments, U-shaped loops secured in said flue sheet and through which said compartments communicate, a longitudinal vertical partial partition depending from the top of the drum, transverse partitions in said drum, one thereof having an opening adjacent to the vertical partition at the top of the drum, and suitable air inlet and outlet connections communicating with the ends of the tortuous passage formed by said partitions, substantially as described.

a. In a steam condenser, a substantially horizontal drum containing a plurality of steam condensing tubes, in combination with a partial vertical partition depending from the top of the drum, a transverse partition having an opening at one side of the said partition, and at the top of the drum, and air inlet and outlet connections communicating with the ends of the tortuous passage formed by said partitions, substantially as described.

5. In a steam condenser, an air drum, in combination with steam condensing tubes traversing said drum, vertical partitions in said drum forming a tortuous passage therein, an air inlet connection, an internally corrugated, tapered, outlet and an inclined corrugated bafiie in said outlet substantially as described.

6. In a steam condenser, an air drum, in combination with steam condensing tubes traversing said drum, vertical partitions in said drum forming atortuous passage therein, an air inlet connection, an internally corrugated, tapered, air outlet and a corrugated damper or bailie movable-in said outlet, substantially as described.

7. In a steam condenser, a cylindrical horizontal drum, in combination with steam condensing tubes extending through said drum, partitions within the drum forming a tortuous air passage therein, a substantially tangential air inlet connection in one end of said passage, an internally corrugated outlet connection at the other end of said passage, and sprayers in said passage, substantially as described.

8. An air cooled steam condenser, and means for blowing air into the same, in combination with sprayers, and an air outlet having inclined corrugated walls and containing an adjustable battle within its lower end, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, We have hereunto set our hands this 3d day of May, 1907, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES AMBROSE. FRANK D. SCHWARTZ. Vitnesses CHARLES GILBERT HAWLEY, J OHN R. LEFEVRE. 

